Boost Your Comfort Indoors by Focusing on These 3 Elements

Making your home more comfortable not only improves your mood, but it’s also good for your health and well-being. A comfortable home is one that relies on safe and reliable systems to provide a healthy environment. Here are three factors that affect your home comfort.

Temperature Control

It’s just basic: When you’re too hot or too cold, you’re uncomfortable. In our warm climate, we’re mostly concerned with keeping the air conditioner running right through our long cooling seasons. One way to ensure that your home’s HVAC system cools or heats your home comfortably but efficiently is by installing a programmable thermostat. You can set schedules to boost cooling or heating when you get up in the morning or arrive home, and cut back when you’re sleeping or away. Also, pay attention to solar gain and loss through windows, and correct air leaks by weatherstripping and caulking cracks and gaps.

Humidity

Humidity makes us feel warmer. That’s not a bad thing in the winter, but in the summer, too much humidity in the home can inspire us to turn down the thermostat several degrees more than should be necessary. Air conditioners are designed to manage humidity, but if you feel yours is too high (optimal humidity is in the 30 to 50 percent range), you may need a dehumidifier. High humidity encourages mold and other problems.

If your home is too dry in the winter, a humidifier can help.

Air Quality

Your indoor air may be more polluted than the air outdoors due to pollen, pet dander, dust, volatile organic compounds, and mold. Use a good quality, pleated air filter to catch most airborne particulates, but if you suspect your home’s air quality still needs attention, invest in an air cleaner.